Cheltenham Town look set to lose star player Isaac Hutchinson this January after Steve Evans revealed his plans for the Bristol Rovers midfielder.
Amid a wave of criticism and abuse while at the Memorial Stadium, the former Walsall man was allowed to leave on loan to Whaddon Road, where he has arguably been their player of the season with six goals and two assists across 21 League Two appearances.
Evans Reveals Loan Recall Likely
Hutchinson has been clear about his desire to stay with Cheltenham earlier this month, telling manager Steve Cotterill twice that he would like to remain at the club for the remainder of the season.
However, new Rovers manager Steve Evans, who is now three games into his tenure with the Pirates, seems to have other plans with his side in need of a new spark as they face a relegation scrap should their form not improve.
Speaking to Bristol Live following their defeat at home to Barnet, Evans spoke about Hutchinson’s loan deal and whether he has contacted the player since arriving in the South West.
“No, because I can’t, because contractually, if I spoke to him, then Cheltenham Town Football Club, I’m sure under Steve Cotterill – we’ve gone to battle many times. I’m sure Steve Cotterill would be talking in the press about what I’ve done, so.
“Well, you know, the intention at the minute is that he’ll be coming back. You know, he’ll be coming back, but we’ll see. He may end up there but, you know, Cheltenham Town have got to talk if they want to keep him, because there’s a date on that deal that says it’s finished. And then they have to talk to me, and I’ll be a bit harder, maybe.”
Not what Cheltenham Town fans wanted to hear, at all #ctfc https://t.co/9McLwl6067
— Jon Palmer (@JonPalmerSport) December 29, 2025
Many loan deals usually have clauses which allow parent clubs to recall players up until halfway through January, meaning that there is still a few weeks’ buffer for the Robins to outline their desire to keep the 25-year-old.
Is A Player Strike Likely?
While it is Steve Evans’ desire to bring Isaac Hutchinson back into the fold, the midfielder may have other opinions. With his expressed desire to remain at Cheltenham Town beyond this window, and given his past confrontations with the fanbase in Bristol, there could certainly be a possibility of him refusing to play.
Rovers are in a tricky position right now, and a recall for the player is understandable given how much of a game-changer Hutchinson has been for Town’s fortunes this season at a time when the Gas need the same.
Losing Hutchinson is a likely massive blow for Cheltenham going into the second half of the season, meaning that the prospect of losing arguably their player of the season already could force them back to the negotiating table.
Given the player’s position, it makes sense that Cotterill and Evans strike an early agreement to keep the 25-year-old in Gloucestershire, perhaps this time on a permanent basis. This window is the only time that the Robins will have a clear run at a signing, given the rules on how many clubs one player can feature for in a season, with summer interest more likely from elsewhere in the EFL.
